A wave of laughter wafted in the night air. I could not tell where it came from. Both Pheasant and I stood still.
“It might be nothing. He likes to try weapons. Perhaps now he wants to become a swordsman.”
His voice was raspy, and his chest heaved rapidly. I wanted to pull him into my arms and smooth his hair. I wanted to believe him, to tell him that was exactly why Taizi had bought the weapons and smuggled them into the palace. But the word treason pummeled my head, and I knew I could not indulge myself or Pheasant.
“Forget it.” Pheasant kicked the ground again. “I’m just fooling myself. He’s meeting a guard before dawn breaks.”
“A guard?” My body tensed.
“The leader of his army.” Pheasant smiled wryly. “I overheard him talking with his men in the stable. He arranged for his men to replace the guards posted in the Outer Palace so none of my father’s army outside can enter the palace. He even bribed the sentries in the watchtower.”
“He’s going to revolt now?”
Pheasant wiped his face. The red light reflected in his tormented eyes. “I need to talk sense into him.”
“What?”
“I’m his brother. I cannot watch him lose his head. He’s the heir, for Heaven’s sake. The kingdom is his no matter what. Why would he challenge our father?”
“Has Taizi forgiven you for the flutist?” He did not speak, and my heart sank. “He is still angry. Why do you think he’ll listen to you? You cannot go, Pheasant. Taizi has lost his mind. Talking to him will not change anything.”
“But if I don’t talk to him, who will? What kind of brother am I? He can’t revolt against my father. It’s suicide.”
Poor Pheasant. Caught between the stones of his father and brother. “Maybe you should tell the Emperor.”
“My father?” Pheasant raised his head toward the direction of the Outer Palace, where the Emperor and his people feasted. He shook his head. “I can’t! Do you remember what happened when Taizi had a fight with Prince Yo? He exiled Yo. What do you think my father will do if he knows about Taizi’s weapons? He’ll kill him!”
I grasped Pheasant’s hand. “But you can’t go, Pheasant. This is rebellion. Taizi wants revenge. He is not going to listen to you. If you tell him, if he knows you are aware of his plan, he’ll kill you. It doesn’t matter that you’re his brother.”
“I have no choice.”
I looked into his eyes. “Listen to me. Don’t rush into this. Let’s think about it. Go to your room, drink some wine, and go to bed. Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe he’ll forget this.”
Pheasant faced me, and his hand swept aside my fallen hair. A shadow crossed his eyes, and the fence of his eyelashes trembled. For a moment, his square jaw seemed to melt, but his lips tightened and his immaculate face transformed into a perfect sculpture of resolution.
He cupped my face. “I want you, sweet face. I hope you know. Only you.”
My heart softened. He loved me still, even though he had Lady Wang. “I do.”
“I’ve never regretted it. Do you?”
I shook my head, pushing back my tears.
“I have to stop my brother. I have to save him.”
I wanted to cry. “No…”
He dropped his hand and went down the corridor. His thin frame emerged into the pool of lantern light that bled like rivers of blood. Then the night’s darkness swallowed him.
I walked back to the garden, where the eunuchs had set up the golden tree. I strung the lanterns in threes and fives and hung them on the golden branches, but I hardly saw them. What would happen to Pheasant? Would Taizi listen to him? Or would he kill him? I shivered. Of course he would. He would never let Pheasant reveal his secret.
I pushed the scattered lanterns away from my feet and ran to the Eastern Palace. Behind me, Daisy called out, asking what the hurry was, but I continued to run.
The east side of the Inner Court was deserted. Almost everyone was already in the feasting hall in the Outer Palace. I ran toward the vast area near the Tongxun Gate, passed the long, arched tunnel, and entered the Eastern Palace. I banged on the gate of Taizi’s residence.
“Taizi!” I shouted.
Silence.
“Pheasant!”
No one answered.
I panicked, and with all my might, I banged and shouted. No one came. Something was terribly wrong. Even if Taizi was not inside, his servants should have answered the door.
I turned around.
I had to find help. I had to save Pheasant before it was too late.
38
I raced to the Outer Palace and burst into the feasting hall. Before me were heads of the ministers, colorful gowns of the ladies, and the bustling servants. The Duke was there, and so was the Chancellor. But the Emperor’s uncle and the Pure Lady were absent. Where were they? Had they sent out their signal yet? But I could not think of their revolt right now.